Lens moving apparatus

ABSTRACT

A lens moving apparatus includes a bobbin including a first coil, a first magnet facing the first coil, a housing supporting the first magnet, upper and lower elastic members coupled to the bobbin and the housing, a base spaced apart from the housing, a second coil unit, which faces the first magnet and includes a second coil, a circuit board on which the second coil unit is mounted, a plurality of support members, which support the housing such that the housing is movable in second and/or third directions and which connect at least one of the upper and lower elastic members to the circuit board, and a second sensor detecting displacement of the housing in the second and/or third directions, wherein the center of the second sensor is disposed so as not to overlap the second coil.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/886,819, filed Oct. 19, 2015, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Application No. 10-2014-0140849, filed Oct. 17,2014, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entiretyincluding any tables, figures, or drawings.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to a lens moving apparatus, which is capable ofaccurately detecting the displacement of a moving unit by inhibitingunwanted interference with magnetic force.

BACKGROUND

It is difficult to adopt voice coil motor (VCM) technology, which istypically used in conventional camera modules, for use in anultracompact camera module, which aims at achieving low powerconsumption, and thus research regarding the technology has beenactively undertaken.

A camera module mounted in a small-sized electronic product, such as asmart phone, may be frequently subjected to shocks during use. Inaddition, the camera module may minutely shake due to the trembling ofthe user's hand while taking a photograph. Therefore, there is a highnecessity for a technology capable of incorporating an optical imagestabilizer into the camera module.

Various handshake correction technologies have been recently researched.Among such technologies, there is a technology of correcting handshakeby moving an optical module in the x-axis and y-axis directions, whichdefine a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. Since the technologymoves and adjusts the optical system in the plane perpendicular to theoptical axis for image correction, its structure is inevitablycomplicated, and thus it is not suitable for miniaturization.

Furthermore, there is the necessity for accurate sensing technology inhandshake correction. A camera module is provided with various devicesfor generating magnetic force, and the sensing technologies employ themagnetic force. Since such a plurality of devices for generatingmagnetic force may apply the magnetic force to an unrelated sensingdevice, the sensing accuracy of the sensing device may be deteriorated.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus, which is capable ofaccurately detecting the displacement of a moving unit by inhibitingunwanted interference with magnetic force.

In one embodiment, a lens moving apparatus includes a bobbin including afirst coil disposed therearound and moving in a first direction, a firstmagnet disposed to face the first coil, a housing for supporting thefirst magnet, upper and lower elastic members coupled to the bobbin andthe housing, a base disposed to be spaced apart from the housing by apredetermined distance, a second coil unit, which is disposed to facethe first magnet and includes a second coil, a circuit board on whichthe second coil unit is mounted, a plurality of support members, whichsupport the housing such that the housing is movable in second and/orthird directions and which connect at least one of the upper and lowerelastic members to the circuit board, and a second sensor for detectingdisplacement of the housing in the second and/or third directions,wherein the center of the second sensor is disposed so as not to overlapthe second coil when viewed in the first direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with referenceto the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a lens moving apparatusaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the lens moving apparatusaccording to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a housing according to theembodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lens moving apparatusaccording to the embodiment, which shows the bobbin, the first coilunit, the magnet, the first sensor and the sensor substrate;

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the bobbin and the magnet shown in FIG.4;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the sensorsubstrate shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5C is a rear perspective view showing one embodiment of the firstsensor and the sensor substrate shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the housing according to theembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the housing and themagnet according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the accuracy of the first sensor as afunction of the position of the first sensor;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the bobbin, the housing, the upperelastic member, the first sensor, the sensor substrate and a pluralityof support members, all of which are coupled to one another;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the bobbin, the housing, thelower elastic member and the plurality of support members, all of whichare coupled to one another;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the upper elastic member, thelower elastic member, the first sensor, the sensor substrate, the base,the support members and the circuit board according to the embodiment,all of which are coupled to one another;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the base, the second coilunit and the circuit board;

FIG. 14A is a bottom view illustrating the disposition of the secondcoil unit and the second sensor;

FIG. 14B is an enlarged view showing the dashed circle of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the disposition of the magnets andthe second coil unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the disposition of the magnets anddirections of magnetic force according to the embodiment;

FIG. 17A is a plan view showing the disposition of the magnets and thesecond coil unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 17B is a side view showing the disposition of the magnets and thesecond coil unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 17A;

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the second coil unit;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are graphs showing the result of frequency responseanalysis of the support members; and

FIG. 21 is a view showing the positional relationship of the magnet, thesecond sensor and the second coil unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to theattached drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements aredenoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted indifferent drawings. In the following description, a detailed descriptionof known functions and configurations incorporated herein will beomitted when it may make the subject matter of the disclosure ratherunclear. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that some features inthe drawings are exaggerated, reduced, or simplified for ease indescription, and drawings and elements thereof are not shown always atthe proper rate.

For reference, in the respective drawings, a rectangular coordinatesystem (x, y, z) may be used. In the drawings, the x-axis and the y-axismean a plane perpendicular to an optical axis and, for convenience, anoptical axis (z-axis) direction may be referred to as a first direction,an x-axis direction may be referred to as a second direction, and ay-axis direction may be referred to as a third direction.

An optical image stabilizing apparatus, which is applied to compactcamera modules of mobile devices such as smart phones or tablet PCs,refers to an apparatus configured to inhibit the contour of an imagecaptured when taking a still image from not being clearly formed due tovibrations caused by the trembling of the user's hand.

In addition, an autofocusing apparatus is configured to automaticallyfocus the subject image on the surface of an image sensor. The opticalimage stabilizing apparatus and the autofocusing apparatus may beconfigured in various manners. The lens moving apparatus according tothe embodiments may perform the optical image stabilizing and/orautofocusing operations in such a manner as to move an optical module,composed of a plurality of lenses in a first direction or in a planedefined by the second and third directions, which are perpendicular tothe first direction.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a lens moving apparatusaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view ofthe lens moving apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lens moving apparatus according to theembodiment may include a first lens moving unit, a second lens movingunit, and a cover member 300.

The first lens moving unit may serve as the above-mentioned autofocusingapparatus. In other words, the first lens moving unit may serve to movea bobbin 110 in the first direction by virtue of the interaction betweena magnet 130 and a first coil unit 120.

The second lens moving unit may serve as the handshake correctionapparatus. In other words, the second lens moving unit may serve to moveall or a portion of the first lens moving unit in the second and/orthird directions by virtue of the interaction between the magnet 130 andthe second coil unit 230.

The cover member 300 may be configured to have an approximate box shapeso as to accommodate the first and second lens moving units therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lens moving apparatus accordingto the embodiment, from which the cover member 300 shown in FIG. 1 isremoved.

The first lens moving unit may include the bobbin 110, the first coilunit 120, the magnet 130, a housing 140, an upper elastic member 150, alower elastic member 160, a first sensor 170 and a sensor substrate 180.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lens moving apparatusaccording to the embodiment, which shows the bobbin 110, the first coilunit 120, the magnet 130 (130-1, 130-2, 130-3 and 130-4), the firstsensor 170 and the sensor substrate 180. FIG. 5A is a plan view showingthe bobbin 110 and the magnet 130 (130-1, 130-2, 130-3 and 130-4) shownin FIG. 4. FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing another embodiment ofthe sensor substrate 180 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5C is a rear perspectiveview showing one embodiment of the first sensor 170 and the sensorsubstrate 180 shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the above-mentioned drawings, the bobbin 110 may bedisposed in the internal space defined in the housing 140 so as to bereciprocated in the first direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the bobbin 110may be provided therearound with the first coil unit 120 such that thefirst coil unit 120 and the magnet 130 interact with each other in anelectromagnetic manner. To this end, the magnet 130 may be disposedaround the bobbin 110 so as to face the first coil unit 120.

When the bobbin 110 performs the upward and/or downward movements in thefirst direction to fulfill the autofocusing function, the bobbin 110 maybe elastically supported by means of the upper and lower elastic members150 and 160. To this end, the upper and lower elastic members 150 and160 may be coupled to the bobbin 110 and the housing 140, as will bedescribed later.

Although not shown in the drawings, the lens moving apparatus may beinclude a lens barrel (not shown), which is provided on the inner sidesurface (i.e. the inner surface) of the bobbin 110 and on which at leastone lens is mounted. The lens barrel may be mounted on the inner surfaceof the bobbin 110 in various ways. For example, the lens barrel may bedirectly secured to the interior of the bobbin 110, or a single lens maybe integrally formed with the bobbin 110 without using the lens barrel.The lens mounted on the lens barrel may include a single lens, or mayinclude two or more lenses, which constitute an optical system.

According to another embodiment, although not shown in the drawings, thebobbin 110 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface thereofwith a female threaded portion and on the outer circumferential surfacethereof with a male threaded portion corresponding to the femalethreaded portion such that the lens barrel is coupled to the bobbin 110by virtue of threaded coupling between the female and male threadedportions. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

The bobbin 110 may include first and second protrusions 111 and 112.

The first protrusion 111 may include a guide portion 111 a and a firststopper 111 b. The guide portion 111 a may serve to guide theinstallation position of the upper elastic member 150. For example, theguide portion 111 a may guide the passage of a first frame connector 153of the upper elastic member 150, as shown in FIG. 3. To this end,according to the embodiment, a plurality of guide portions 111 a mayprotrude in the second and third directions, which are perpendicular tothe first direction. The guide portions 111 a may be provided in theplane defined by the x axis and the y axis so as to be symmetrical aboutthe center point of the bobbin 110, as shown in the drawings, or may beprovided so as to be asymmetrical about the center point of the bobbin110 without interference with other components, unlike the embodimentshown in the drawings.

The second protrusion 112 may include a plurality of second protrusions,which protrude in the second and third directions perpendicular to thefirst direction. A first inner frame 151 of the upper elastic member150, which will be described later, may be mounted on the upper surfaces112 a of the second protrusions 112.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the housing 140 according to theembodiment. FIG. 7 is a bottom exploded perspective view of the housing140 and the magnet 130 according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the housing 140 may include first mounting recesses146, which are formed at positions corresponding to those of the firstand second protrusions 111 and 112.

When the bobbin 110 moves in the first direction for the autofocusingfunction, the first stoppers 111 b of the first protrusions 111 and thesecond protrusions 112 serve to inhibit the bottom surface of the bodyof the bobbin 110 from directly colliding with the upper surfaces of abase 210 and a printed circuit board 250 even when the bobbin 110 movesbeyond a predetermined range due to external impacts or the like. Tothis end, the first stoppers 111 b may protrude from the outercircumferential surface of the bobbin 110 in the radial direction, thatis, in the second or third direction, so as to be longer than the guideportions 111 a, and the second protrusions 112 may also protrude in thelateral direction so as to be larger than the upper surfaces thereof onwhich the upper elastic member 150 is mounted.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the state in which the bottom surfaces of thefirst and second protrusions 111 and 112 are in contact with the bottomsurfaces of the first mounting recesses 146 is set be the initialposition, the autofocusing function may be controlled as in theunidirectional control of a conventional voice coil motor (VCM).Specifically, the autofocusing function may be fulfilled in such amanner that the bobbin 110 is raised when current is supplied to thefirst coil unit 120 and is lowered when the supply of current isinterrupted.

However, when the state in which the bottom surfaces of the first andsecond protrusions 111 and 112 are spaced apart from the bottom surfacesof the first mounting recesses 146 by a predetermined distance is set tobe the initial position, the autofocusing function may be controlled inaccordance with the direction of current as in the bidirectional controlof a conventional voice coil motor. Specifically, the autofocusingfunction may be fulfilled by moving the bobbin 110 upward or downward.For example, the bobbin 110 may be moved upward upon the application offorward current and may be moved downward upon the application ofreverse current.

The housing 140 may include third protrusions 148, which are provided atpositions corresponding to spaces each having a first width W1, whichare defined between the first and second protrusions 111 and 112. Thesurfaces of the third protrusions 148 that face the bobbin 110 may havethe same shape as the side surface of the bobbin 110. At this point, thefirst width W1 between the first and second protrusions 111 and 112,shown in FIG. 4, and the second width W2 between the third protrusions148, shown in FIG. 6 may be set to have a predetermined tolerancetherebetween. Accordingly, the displacement of the third protrusions 148between the first and second protrusions 111 and 112 may be restricted.As a result, even though the bobbin 110 is subjected to a force tendingto rotate the bobbin 110 about the optical axis rather than a forcetending to move the bobbin 110 in the first direction, it is possible toinhibit the rotation of the bobbin 110 by means of the third protrusions148.

According to the embodiment, the first sensor 170 may be disposed,coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110, and may thus be moved with thebobbin 110. The first sensor 170 may detect displacement in the firstdirection of the bobbin 110, and may output the detected result as afeedback signal. By using the detected result which is obtained bydetecting displacement of the bobbin 110 in the first direction or inthe direction parallel to the first direction using the feedback signal,displacement of the bobbin 110 in the first direction or the directionparallel to the first direction may be adjusted.

The first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the housing140 in various manners, and may receive current in various fashionsdepending on the manner in which the first sensor 170 is disposed,coupled or mounted.

According to one embodiment, the first sensor 170 may be coupled to thehousing 140 and an additional magnet (not shown), which faces the firstsensor 170, may be disposed on the bobbin 110. The first sensor 170 maybe disposed, coupled or mounted on side surfaces or corners of the firstmounting recess 146 of the housing 140 shown in FIG. 6 (for example, thesurface of the third protrusion 148). In this case, by the magneticforce which is exerted on the magnet 130 from the additional sensormagnet, the bobbin 110, which is moved in the first direction, that is,the optical axis direction or the direction parallel to the firstdirection, may be tilted, and the accuracy of the feedback signal may bedeteriorated. In consideration of this, another additional sensor magnetmay be disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110 at a position atwhich the interaction between the first additional sensor magnet and themagnet 130 is minimized.

According to another embodiment, the first sensor 170 may be directlydisposed, coupled or mounted on the outer circumferential surface of thebobbin 110. In this case, surface electrodes (not shown) may be providedon the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 110, and the firstsensor 170 may receive current through the surface electrodes.

According to a further embodiment, the first sensor 170 may beindirectly disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110, as shown inthe drawings. For example, the first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupledor mounted on the sensor substrate 180, and the sensor substrate 180 maybe coupled to the bobbin 110. In other words, the first sensor 170 maybe indirectly disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110 through thesensor substrate 180.

When the first sensor 170 is directly or indirectly disposed to thebobbin 110 as in the other and further embodiments, the sensor magnetmay be disposed independently from the magnet 130, and the magnet 130may be used as the sensor magnet.

Hereinafter, although the case in which the first sensor 170 isindirectly disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110 through thesensor substrate 180 and the magnet 130 is used as the sensor magnetwill be described, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5A, the bobbin 110 may be provided on the outerside surface thereof with a support groove 114, and the sensor substrate180 may be fitted into the support groove 114 so as to be coupled to thebobbin 110. Although the sensor substrate 180 may have, for example, aring shape, as shown in the drawings, the embodiments are not limited asto the shape of the sensor substrate 180. The support groove 114 may bedefined between the outer circumferential surface of the bobbin 110 andthe first and second protrusions 111 and 112. At this point, the firstsensor 170 may have a shape capable of being disposed, coupled ormounted on the sensor substrate 180. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B, thefirst sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on, for example, anupper area A1, an intermediate area A2 and a lower area A3 of the outersurface of the sensor substrate 180 in various manners. The first sensor170 may receive current from the outside through the circuit of thesensor substrate 180. For example, a mounting hole 183 may be formed inthe outer surface of the sensor substrate 180, and the first sensor 170may be disposed, coupled or mounted in the mounting hole 183, as shownin FIG. 5B. At least one surface of the mounting hole 183 may beconfigured to have an inclined surface (not shown) so as to allow moreefficient injection of epoxy or the like for assembly of the firstsensor 170. Although additional epoxy or the like may not be injectedinto the mounting hole 183, the epoxy or the like may be injected so asto increase the disposition stability, coupling force or mounting forceof the first sensor 170.

Alternatively, the first sensor 170 may be attached to the outer surfaceof the sensor substrate 180 by means of an adhesive, such as epoxy ordouble-sided adhesive tape, as shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIG.4, the first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mounted on thecenter of the sensor substrate 180.

The bobbin 110 may have a reception recess 116, which is suitable forreceiving the first sensor 170, which is disposed, coupled or mounted onthe sensor substrate 180. The reception recess 116 may be formed betweenthe first and second protrusions 111 and 112.

The sensor substrate 180 may a body 182, elastic member contacts 184-1,184-2, 184-3 and 184-4, and circuit patterns L1, L2, L3 and L4.

When the support groove 114, which is defined between the outer surfaceof the bobbin 110 and the first and second protrusions 111 and 112, hasthe same shape as the outer surface of the bobbin 110, the body 182 ofthe sensor substrate 180 may have a shape capable of being securelyfitted into the support groove 114. Although the support groove 114 andthe body 182 may have a circular cross-sectional shape, as shown in FIG.3 to FIG. 5A, the embodiments are not limited thereto. According toanother embodiment, the support groove 114 and the body 182 may have apolygonal cross-sectional shape.

The body 812 of the sensor substrate 180 may include a first segment, onthe outer surface of which the first sensor 170 is disposed, coupled ormounted, and a second segment, which contacts the first segment andextends therefrom. Although the sensor substrate 180 may have an openingin a region facing the first segment so as to be easily fitted into thesupport groove 114, the embodiments are not limited to a specific shapeof the sensor substrate 180.

The elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4 may protrudefrom the body 182 in the direction which allows the elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4 to contact the first frame 151,for example, in the first direction, that is, the optical axis directionor in the direction parallel to the first direction. The elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4 are the portions that areconnected to the first inner frame 151 of the upper elastic member 150,which will be described later.

The circuit patterns L1, L2, L3 and L4 may be formed on the body 182,and may conductively connect the first sensor 170 and the elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4. For example, the first sensor170 may be embodied as a Hall sensor, but may alternatively be embodiedas any sensor as long as it is able to detect variation in magneticforce.

If the first sensor 170 is embodied as a Hall sensor, the Hall sensor170 may have a plurality of pins. For example, the plurality of pins mayinclude a first pin and a second pin. Referring to FIG. 5C, the firstpin may include, for example, a first of first pin P11 and a second offirst pin P12, which are respectively connected to the voltage and toground, and the second pin may include a first of second pin P21 and asecond of second pin P22, which output the detected result. At thispoint, although the detected result, that is, the feedback signal whichis output through the first of second pin P21 and the second of secondpin P22, may be of current type, the embodiments are not limited as tothe kind of feedback signal.

The first of first, second of first, first of second and second ofsecond pins P11, P12, P21 and P22 of the first sensor 170 may beconductively connected to the elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2,184-3 and 184-4 through the circuit patterns L1, L2, L3 and L4,respectively. Referring to FIG. 5C, the first of first, second of first,first of second and second of second pins P11, P12, P21 and P22 may beconnected to the fourth, third, second and first elastic member contacts184-1, 184-3, 184-2 and 184-1 through the circuit patterns, that is, thefirst, second, third and fourth lines L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively.According to an embodiment, the first, second, third and fourth linesL1, L2, L3 and L4 may be constructed to be visible to the naked eye.According to another embodiment, the first, second, third and fourthlines L1, L2, L3 and L4 may be formed in the body 182 so as to beinvisible to the naked eye.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first sensor 170 may be disposed to face themagnet 130 such that the imaginary center horizontal line 172, whichextends through the center of the first sensor 170 in the optical axisdirection and intersects the optical axis, is aligned with the upper end131 of the magnet 130.

At this point, although the bobbin 110 may be moved upward and downwardin the optical axis direction, that is, in the first direction or in thedirection parallel to the first direction with respect to the referencepoint at which the imaginary center horizontal line 172 coincides withthe upper end 131 of the magnet 130, the embodiments are not limitedthereto.

FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the accuracy of the first sensor 170 as afunction of the position of the first sensor 170, in which thehorizontal axis represents the position of the first sensor 170 and thevertical axis represents the accuracy of the first sensor 170.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be appreciated that the efficiencyof sensing by the first sensor 170 is maximized when the imaginarycenter horizontal line 172 coincides with the upper end 131 of themagnet 130.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the bobbin 110, the housing 140,the upper elastic member 150, the first sensor 170, the sensor substrate180 and a plurality of support members 220, all of which are coupled toone another.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of the bobbin 110, the housing 140,the lower elastic member 160 and the plurality of support members 220,all of which are coupled to one another.

The first coil unit 120 may be wound around the outer circumferentialsurface of the bobbin 110 by a worker or a machine, and then both ends,that is, the start line and the end line of the first coil unit 120 maybe respectively wound around a pair of winding protrusions 119protruding from the bottom surface of the bobbin 110 in the firstdirection, and may be secured thereto. At this time, the position of theend line of the first coil unit 120, which is wound around the windingprotrusion 119, may vary depending on the worker. As illustrated in FIG.11, although the pair of winding protrusions 119 may be disposed atpositions that are symmetrical about the center of the bobbin 110, theembodiments are not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first coil unit 120 may be fitted andcoupled in a coil groove 118, which is formed in the outercircumferential surface of the bobbin 110. As illustrated in FIG. 2,although the first coil unit 120 may be embodied as a polygonal coilblock, the embodiments are not limited thereto. According to anotherembodiment, the first coil unit 120 may be directly wound around theouter circumferential surface of the bobbin 110, or may be wound througha coil ring (not shown). The coil ring may be coupled to the bobbin 110in the same manner as the sensor substrate 180 fitted in the supportgroove 114, and the first coil unit 120 may be wound around the coilring rather than being wound or disposed around the bobbin 110. In anycase, the start line and the end line of the first coil unit 120 may berespectively wound around the pair of winding protrusions 119 andsecured thereto, and other constructions are the same.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first coil unit 120 may be configured to have anapproximately octagonal shape. This is because the outer circumferentialsurface of the bobbin 110, which corresponds to the first coil unit 120,has the octagonal shape, as illustrated in FIG. 5A. At least foursurfaces among the surfaces of the first coil unit 120 may be configuredto be linear, and the corner surfaces connected between the foursurfaces may also be configured to be linear. However, the embodimentsare not limited thereto, and the surfaces may be configured to berounded.

The linear surfaces of the first coil unit 120 may be configured tocorrespond to the magnets 130. The surfaces of the magnets 130, whichcorrespond to the surfaces of the first coil unit 120, may have the sameradius of curvature as the surfaces of the first coil unit 120.Specifically, the surfaces of the magnets 130 may be linear when thesurfaces of the coils 120 are linear, whereas the surfaces of themagnets 130 may be rounded when the surfaces of the coils 120 arerounded. However, even if the surfaces of the first coil unit 120 arerounded, the surfaces of the magnets 130 may be linear, and vice versa.

The first coil unit 120, which is intended to move the bobbin 110 in thefirst direction parallel to the optical axis or the direction parallelto the first direction so as to fulfill the autofocusing function, maygenerate electromagnetic force through the interaction between themagnets 130 and the first coil unit 120 upon the supply of current. Thegenerated electromagnetic force may move the bobbin 110 in the firstdirection or in the direction parallel to the first direction.

The first coil unit 120 may be configured to correspond to the magnets130. In other words, if the magnets 130 are constructed form a singlemagnet body and the entire inner surface of the magnet 130, which facesthe outer surface of the first coil unit 120, has the same polarity, theouter surface of the first coil unit 120, which corresponds to the innersurface of the magnet 130, may have the same polarity.

Alternatively, the magnet 130 may be divided into two or four magnetsand thus the inner surface of the magnet 130, which faces the outersurface of the first coil unit 120, may also be divided into two or foursurfaces, in which case the first coil unit 120 may also be divided intoa number of coils that corresponds to the number of the divided magnets130.

The magnet 130 may be disposed at the position corresponding to that ofthe first coil unit 120. Referring to FIG. 8, the magnet 130 may bedisposed to face the first coil unit 120 as well as the first sensor170. This is the case in which the magnet 130 is used as the magnet forthe first sensor 170 without providing an additional magnet for thefirst sensor 170 as in one embodiment.

In this case, the magnet 130 may be received in a first side portion 141of the housing 140, as shown in FIG. 7. The magnet 130 may be configuredto have an approximately cuboid shape corresponding to that of the firstside portion 141 of the housing 140, and the surface of the magnet 130that faces the first coil unit 120 may be configured to have a curvaturecorresponding to that of the corresponding surface of the first coilunit 120.

The magnet 130 may be constituted by a single magnet body. Referring toFIG. 5A, which shows the embodiment, the magnet 130 may be oriented suchthat the inner surface of the magnet 130 that faces the first coil unit120 serves as an S pole, whereas the outer surface of the magnet 130serves as an N pole 134. However, the embodiments are not limitedthereto, and the inverted disposition is also possible.

Two or more magnets 130 may be provided. According to the embodiment,four magnets 130 may be provided. As shown in FIG. 5A, the magnet 130may be configured to have an approximately rectangular shape when viewedin a plan view. Alternatively, the magnet 130 may be configured to havea triangular shape or a rhombus shape.

Although the surface of the magnet 130 that faces the first coil unit120 may be linear, the embodiments are not limited thereto. If thecorresponding surface of the first coil unit 120 is rounded, the magnet130 may be rounded so as to have a curvature corresponding to that ofthe rounded surface of the first coil unit 120. By virtue of thisconfiguration, it is possible to maintain a constant distance betweenthe magnet 130 and the first coil unit 120. In the embodiment, themagnets 130 may be disposed one at each of the four first side portions141 of the housing 140. However, the embodiments are not limitedthereto. In some designs, only one of the surface of the magnet 130 andthe surface of the first coil unit 120 may be a flat surface whereas theother surface may be a curved surface. Furthermore, both the matingsurfaces of the first coil unit 120 and the magnet 130 may be curvedsurfaces. In this case, the mating faces of the first coil unit 120 andthe magnet 130 may have the same curvature.

When the magnets 130 have a rectangular shape when viewed in a planview, a pair of magnets 130 among the plurality of magnets 130 may beoriented parallel to each other in the second direction, and the otherpair of magnets 130 may be oriented parallel to each other in the thirddirection. Thanks to this configuration, it is possible to implement themovement control of the housing 140 for the handshake correction.

The housing 140 may have a polygonal shape when viewed in a plan view.Although the outer contour of the upper end of the housing 140 may havea square shape, as shown in FIG. 6, which shows the embodiment, theinner contour of the lower end of the housing 140 may have an octagonalshape, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Accordingly, the housing 140 mayinclude a plurality of side portions, for example, four first sideportions 141 and four second side portions 142.

The first side portions 141 may be the portions on which the magnets 130are mounted, and the second side portions 142 may be the portions onwhich the support members 220 are mounted. The first side portions 141may connect the second side portions 142 to each other, and may includeflat surfaces having a predetermined depth.

According to the embodiment, the first side portions 141 may beconfigured to have a surface area equal to or larger than that of themagnets 130. Referring to FIG. 7, the magnets 130 may be held in magnetmounting portions 141 a, which are formed at lower portions of innersurfaces of the first side portions 141. The magnet mounting seatportions 141 a may be embodied as recesses having a size correspondingto that of the magnets 130, and may be disposed so as to face at leastthree surfaces, that is, opposite lateral side surfaces and the uppersurface of the magnets 130. The magnet mounting portions 141 a may haveopenings, which are provided in the bottom surfaces thereof and whichface the second coil unit 230, such that the bottom surfaces of themagnets 130 directly face the second coil unit 230.

Although the magnets 130 may be secured to the magnet mounting portions141 a using an adhesive, an adhesive member such as a piece ofdouble-sided adhesive tape may alternatively be used without limitation.Alternatively, the magnet mounting portions 141 a may be embodied asmagnet mounting holes into which the magnets 130 are partially fitted orthrough which the magnets 130 are partially exposed, unlike the recessedstructure shown in FIG. 7.

The first side portions 141 may be disposed parallel to the sidesurfaces of the cover member 300. The first side portions 141 may beconfigured to have a larger area than the second side portions 142. Thesecond side portions 142 may define passages through which the supportmembers extend. Upper portions of the second side portions 142 mayinclude first through holes 147. The support members 220 may extendthrough the first through holes 147 and may be connected to the upperelastic member 150.

The housing 140 may further include second stoppers 144. The secondstoppers 144 may inhibit the upper surface of the housing 140 fromdirectly colliding with the inner surface of the cover member 300 shownin FIG. 1.

The housing 140 may further include a plurality of first upper supportprotrusions 143 formed on the second side portions 142. The plurality offirst upper support protrusions 143 may have a hemispherical shape, asshown in the drawings, or may have a circular cylindrical shape or arectangular column shape. However, the embodiments are not limited as tothe shape of the first upper support protrusions 143.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing 140 may be provided with firstrecesses 142 a formed in the side portions 142. The first recesses 142 aare provided so as to provide paths, through which the support members220 extend, as well as spaces which will be filled with gel-typesilicone. In other words, the first recesses 142 may be filled withdamping silicone.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the upper elastic member 150, thelower elastic member 160, the first sensor 170, the sensor substrate180, the base 210, the support members 220 and the circuit board 250according to the embodiment, all of which are coupled to one another.

According to the embodiment, the upper elastic member 150 may include atleast four upper elastic members, that is, first to fourth upper elasticmembers 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and 150-4. The elastic member contacts184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4, which are connected to the first sensor170, may be connected to the plurality of support members 220 throughthe first to fourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and 150-4.

Each of the first and third upper elastic members 150-1 and 150-3 mayinclude the first inner frame 151 and the first frame connector 153, andeach of the second and fourth upper elastic members 150-2 and 150-4 mayinclude the first inner frame 151 and the first frame connector 153. Thefirst inner frame 151 may be coupled to the bobbin 110 and theassociated elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4. Asshown in FIG. 4, when the upper surface 112 a of the second protrusion112 is flat, the first inner frame 151 may be placed on the uppersurface 112 a, and may be secured thereto by means of an adhesivemember. According to another embodiment, when a support protrusion (notshown) is formed on the upper surface 112 a, unlike the one embodimentshown in FIG. 4, the support protrusion may be inserted into a first ofsecond through hole 151 a formed in the first inner frame 151, and maybe secured thereto through thermal fusion or by means of an adhesivesuch as epoxy.

The first frame connector 153 may be bent at least one time to define apredetermined pattern. The upward and/or downward movement of the bobbin110 in the first direction, parallel to the optical axis, may beflexibly supported by change of position and fine deformation of thefirst frame connector 153.

The plurality of first upper support protrusions 143 of the housing 140may couple and secure the upper elastic member 150 to the housing 140,as illustrated in FIG. 12. According to the embodiment, the upperelastic member 150 may be provided with second of second through holes157 at positions corresponding to the first upper support protrusions143 of the upper elastic member 150. The upper support protrusions 143and the second of second through holes 157 may be coupled to each otherthrough thermal fusion or by means of an adhesive such as epoxy. Inorder to secure the plurality of first to fourth upper elastic members150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and 150-4, a sufficient number of first uppersupport protrusions 143 may be provided. Accordingly, it is possible toinhibit the first to fourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3and 150-4 and the housing 140 from being unreliably coupled to eachother.

The distance between the plurality of first upper support protrusions143 may be appropriately set such that the first upper supportprotrusions do not interfere with peripheral components. Specifically,the first upper support protrusions 143 may be disposed at the cornersof the housing 140 at regular intervals so as to be symmetrical aboutthe center of the bobbin 110, or may be disposed at irregular intervalsso as to be symmetrical based on a specific imaginary line extendingthrough the center of the bobbin 110.

After the first inner frame 151 is coupled to the bobbin 110 and theupper elastic member 150 is coupled to the housing 140, conductiveconnecting members CP11, CP12, CP13 and CP14, such as solder, may beprovided between the elastic member contacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and184-4 of the sensor substrate 180 and the first inner frame 151, asshown in FIG. 10, so as to enable power having different polarities tobe applied to two pins P11 and P12 among the four pins P11, P12, P13 andP14 of the first sensor 170 and to enable different feedback signals tobe output from the other two pins P21 and P22. In order to enable theapplication of power having different polarities and the output ofdifferent feedback signals in this way, the upper elastic member 150 maybe divided into the first to fourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2,150-3 and 150-4.

The first to fourth upper elastic members 150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and 150-4are connected to the circuit board 250 through the support members 220.Accordingly, the first sensor 170 may receive power supplied from thecircuit board 250 through the support members 220 and the upper elasticmember 150, or may output feedback signals and provide the feedbacksignals to the circuit board 250.

The lower elastic member 160 may include a first lower elastic member160-1 and a second lower elastic member 160-2, which are conductivelyisolated from each other. The first coil unit 120 may be connected tothe plurality of support members 220 through the first and second lowerelastic members 160-1 and 160-2.

Each of the first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 mayinclude at least one of the second frame connectors 163-1 and 163-2.

The first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2 may receivepower having different polarities and may transmit the power to thefirst coil unit 120. In order to enable the application of power havingdifferent polarities and transmission of the power to the first coilunit 120 in this way, the lower elastic member 160 may be divided intothe first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2.

At least one of the first of second and second of second frameconnectors 163-1 and 163-2, may be bent at least one time to define apredetermined pattern. Particularly, the upward and/or downward movementof the bobbin 110 in the first direction, parallel to the optical axis,may be flexibly supported by change of position and fine deformation ofthe first of second frame connector 163-1.

At least one of the upper elastic member and the lower elastic membermay include the bent portion, which is bent in the first direction, andneither the upper elastic member nor the lower elastic member mayinclude the bent portion, which is bent in the first direction.

It will be appreciated that the first and second lower elastic members160-1 and 160-2 receive power from the circuit board 250 through thefifth and sixth upper elastic members 150-5 and 150-6, connected to theplurality of support members 220, and provide the power to the firstcoil unit 120. Specifically, the first lower elastic member 160-1 may beconnected to the circuit board 250 through the sixth upper elasticmember 160-6 and the sixth support member 220, and the second lowerelastic member 160-2 may be connected to the circuit board 250 throughthe fifth upper elastic member 160-5 and the support member 220.

Referring to FIG. 11, the lower surface of the bobbin 110 may beprovided with a plurality of first lower support protrusions 117 so asto couple or secure the lower elastic member 160 and the bobbin 110 toeach other. The lower surface of the housing 140 may be provided with aplurality of second lower support protrusions 145 so as to couple orsecure the lower elastic member 160 and the housing 140 to each other.

At this point, the number of second lower support protrusions 145 may belarger than the number of first lower support protrusions 117. This isbecause the second frame connector 163-2 of the lower elastic member 160is longer than the first frame connector 163-1.

As described above, since the lower elastic member 160 is divided intotwo lower elastic members, the first and second lower supportprotrusions 117 and 145 are provided in a sufficient number equal to thenumber of the first upper support protrusions 143, whereby it ispossible to inhibit a gap which would otherwise be created when thelower elastic member 160 is separated.

In the case where the lower elastic member 160 is constituted not bydivided segments but by a single body, there is no necessity to providea large number of first and second lower support protrusions 117 and 145equal to the number of the first upper support protrusions 143. This isbecause the lower elastic member 160 can be reliably coupled to thehousing 140 by only a small number of first and second lower supportprotrusions 117 and 145.

However, when the lower elastic member 160 is divided into the first andsecond lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2, which are conductivelyisolated from each other, a sufficient number of first and second lowersupport protrusions 117 and 145 may be provided in order to hold thedivided first and second lower elastic members 160-1 and 160-2.Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit the first and second lowerelastic members 160-1 and 160-2 and the housing 140 from beingincompletely coupled to each other.

Referring still to FIG. 11, although the first and second lower supportprotrusions 117 and 145 may be configured to have a hemispheric shapelike the first upper support protrusions 143, they may also beconfigured to have a circular cylindrical or rectangular column shape.However, the embodiments are not limited to the shape.

The distance between the plurality of first lower support protrusions117 and 145 may be appropriately set such that the first lower supportprotrusions do not interfere with peripheral components. Specifically,the first and second lower support protrusions 117 and 145 may bedisposed at irregular intervals so as to be symmetrical about the centerpoint of the bobbin 110.

Although the upper elastic member 150 and the lower elastic member 160may be embodied as springs, the embodiments are not limited as to thematerial of the upper and lower elastic members 150 and 160.

The bobbin 110, the housing 140 and the upper and lower elastic members150 and 160 may be assembled with each other through thermal fusionand/or a bonding procedure using an adhesive. Here, the assembly may beperformed in such a manner as to perform thermal fusion and then abonding procedure using an adhesive depending on the assembly sequence.

For example, when the first inner frame 151 of the upper elastic member150 is first assembled in the third assembly, the elastic membercontacts 184-1, 184-2, 184-3 and 184-4 of the sensor substrate 180 andthe first inner frames 151 of the first to fourth upper elastic members150-1, 150-2, 150-3 and 150-4 may be coupled to each other throughthermal fusion. Thereafter, when the housing 140 and the upper elasticmember 150 are coupled to each other in the fourth assembly, the secondof second through holes 157 may be bonded to the first upper supportprotrusions 143 of the housing 140 through the application of anadhesive such as epoxy. However, this assembly sequence may be changed.In other words, the first to third assemblies may be performed throughthermal fusion, and the fourth assembly may be performed throughbonding. Although thermal fusion may involve deformation such asdistortion, the bonding in the fourth assembly may compensate for suchdeformation.

In the above embodiment, power may be supplied to the first sensor 170through the two upper elastic members 160, which are conductivelyisolated from each other, a feedback signal output from the first sensor170 may be transmitted to the circuit board 250 through two other upperelastic members 150, which are conductively isolated from each other,and power may be supplied to the first coil unit 120 through the twolower elastic members 160, which are conductively isolated from eachother. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto.

According to another embodiment, the role of the plurality of upperelastic members 150 and the role of the plurality of lower elasticmembers 160 may be swapped. Specifically, power may be supplied to thefirst coil unit 120 through the two upper elastic members 150, which areconductively isolated from each other, power may be supplied to thefirst sensor 170 through two lower elastic members 160, which areconductively isolated from each other, and a feedback signal output fromthe first sensor 170 may be transmitted to the circuit board 250 throughtwo other lower elastic members 160. Although not illustrated, this willbe readily understood from the drawings.

Hereinafter, the upper and lower elastic members 150 and 160 are brieflydescribed in the case where the role of the upper elastic member 150 andthe role of the lower elastic member 160 are swapped. In this case, thelower elastic member may be divided like the shape of the upper elasticmember 150 shown in FIG. 10, and the upper elastic member may be dividedlike the shape of the lower elastic member 160 shown in FIG. 11.Furthermore, the sensor substrate 180 may be coupled to the bobbin 110,and the elastic member contacts of the sensor substrate 180 may protrudetoward the lower elastic member 160 rather than toward the upper elasticmember 150, and may be coupled to the associated lower elastic members160.

The lower elastic member may include at least four first to fourth lowerelastic members, and the first sensor 170 may be coupled to theplurality of support members 220 through the first to fourth lowerelastic members.

Each of the first to fourth lower elastic members may include the firstinner frame coupled to the bobbin 110, the first of first outer framecoupled to the housing 140 and connected to the support member 220, andthe first frame connector connecting the first inner frame and the firstof first outer frame.

The upper elastic member may include at least two first and second upperelastic members, which are separated from each other, and the first coilunit 120 may be coupled to the plurality of support members 220 throughthe first and second elastic members.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may include at leastone second inner frame coupled to the bobbin 110, at least one secondouter frame coupled to the housing 140, and the first of second frameconnector connecting the at least one second inner frame and the atleast one second outer frame.

At least one of the second outer frames may include a plurality of outerframes, and each of the first and second upper elastic members mayfurther include the second of second frame connector connecting theplurality of second outer frames.

The at least four lower elastic members may further include fifth andsixth lower elastic members, which are separated from each other, andeach of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members may be formed in thedirection parallel to the first direction and may be coupled to thehousing 140. Each of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members mayfurther include the second of first outer frame connected to the supportmember 220.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may further include abent portion, which is bent from the second of second frame connectortoward the lower elastic member in the first direction. Each of thefifth and sixth lower elastic members may further include a connectingframe connecting the bent portion and the second of first outer frame.

Alternatively, each of the fifth and sixth lower elastic members mayfurther include a connecting frame, which is bent from the second offirst outer frame to the second of second frame connector in the firstdirection. Here, the bent portion, the connecting frame and the secondof first outer frame may be integrally formed.

Alternatively, each of the first and second upper elastic members mayfurther include a bent portion, which is bent from the second of secondframe connector to the second of first outer frame in the firstdirection.

Alternatively, the lens moving apparatus may further include a metalpiece, which is inserted or attached to the housing 140, and the secondof first outer frame and the third of second frame connector may beconnected to each other by means of the metal piece.

Each of the first and second upper elastic members may further include acoil frame connected to the associated one of both end lines of thefirst coil unit 120 and a third of second frame connector connecting thecoil frame and at least one second inner frame.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 6, 7, 10 and 11, the outer side surface of thehousing 140 may be provided with a plurality of third stoppers 149. Thethird stoppers 149 are intended to inhibit the body of the housing 140from colliding with the cover member 300 when the first lens moving unitmoves in the second and/or third directions, that is, to inhibit theside surface of the housing 140 from directly colliding with the innersurface of the cover member 300 upon the application of external impact.As shown in the drawings, although the third stoppers 149 are disposedtwo to each of the outer surface of the housing 140 with a constantinterval therebetween, the embodiments are not limited as to thepositions or number of the third stoppers 149.

Although not shown in the drawings, the housing 140 may further beprovided at the lower surface thereof with fourth stoppers. The fourthstoppers may project from the lower surface of the housing 140. Thefourth stoppers may serve to inhibit the lower surface of the housing140 from colliding with the base 210 and/or the circuit board 250, whichwill be described later. In addition, the fourth stoppers may bemaintained in the state of being spaced apart from the base 210 and/orthe circuit board 250 by a predetermined distance when it is in theinitial position and is operating normally. Thanks to this construction,the housing 140 may be spaced apart from the base 210 downward and maybe spaced apart from the cover member 300 upward, whereby the housing140 may be maintained at a constant level in the optical axis directionwithout interference with other components. Accordingly, the housing 140may move in the second and/or third directions in the planeperpendicular to the optical axis.

The first lens moving unit according to the embodiment may preciselycontrol the movement of the bobbin 110 by detecting the position of thebobbin 110 in the optical axis direction, that is, the first directionor the direction parallel to the first direction. This may be achievedby feeding the position detected by the first sensor 170 back to theoutside through the circuit board 250.

According to one embodiment, in order to move the bobbin 110 in theoptical axis direction, that is, the first direction or the directionparallel to the first direction, a magnet (hereinafter referred to asthe detecting magnet; not shown), which faces the first sensor 170, mayfurther be provided, in addition to the magnet 130 (hereinafter referredto as the autofocusing magnet) that faces the first coil unit 120. Inthis embodiment, the interaction between the autofocusing magnet 130 andthe first coil unit 120 may be obstructed by the detecting magnet. Thisis because a magnetic field may be generated by the detecting magnet.Accordingly, in order to inhibit the detecting magnet, which isseparately provided, from interacting with the autofocusing magnet 130or in order to inhibit the bobbin 110 from being tilted but to allow theinteraction between the detecting magnet and the autofocusing magnet130, the first sensor 170 may be disposed to face the detecting magnet.In this case, the first sensor 170 may be disposed, coupled or mountedon the bobbin 110, and the detecting magnet may be disposed, coupled ormounted on the housing 140. Alternatively, the first sensor 170 may bedisposed, coupled or mounted on the housing 140, and the detectingmagnet may be disposed, coupled or mounted on the bobbin 110.

According to another embodiment, in place of additional disposition ofthe detecting magnet, the autofocusing magnet may be used as thedetecting magnet in order to move the bobbin 110 in the optical axisdirection, that is, the first direction or the direction parallel to thefirst direction. For example, in order for the autofocusing magnet 130to also serve as the detecting magnet, the first sensor 170 may not bedisposed on the housing 140 but may be disposed, coupled or mounted onthe bobbin 110 so as to be moved with the bobbin 110. Accordingly, whenboth the autofocusing magnet and the detecting magnet are presenttogether, problems caused by the interaction between the two magnets maybe fundamentally solved. For example, it is not necessary to provide apiece of magnetic field blocking metal (not shown) for minimizing theinteraction between the autofocusing magnet and the detecting magnet.

In some cases, the first lens moving unit may further include variousdevices for improving the autofocusing function, in addition to thefirst sensor 170. In this case, the positions of the devices or themethod or process of receiving power through the circuit board 250 andsupplying feedback signals to the circuit board 250 may be identical tothose of the first sensor 170.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the second lens moving unit, which serves asa handshake correction lens moving unit, may include the first lensmoving unit, the base 210, the plurality of support members 220, thesecond coil unit 230, the second sensor 240, and the circuit board 250.

Although the first lens moving unit may include the above-mentionedcomponents, the above-mentioned components may be replaced with anotheroptical system capable of fulfilling the autofocusing function.Specifically, the first lens moving unit may be constituted by anoptical module using a single lens moving actuator or a variablerefractive index actuator, in place of using an autofocusing actuatoremploying a voice coil motor. In other words, the first lens moving unitmay adopt any optical actuator as long as it is capable of fulfilling anautofocusing function. However, there is a need to install the magnet130 at a position corresponding to the second coil unit 230, which willbe described later.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the base 210, the second coilunit 230 and the circuit board 250.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 13, the base 210 of the second lens moving unitmay have an approximately rectangular shape when viewed in a plan view.The base 210 may be provided with stepped portions 211, to which anadhesive is applied when adhesively securing the cover member 300 to thebase 210, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The stepped portion 211 may guidethe cover member 300, which is coupled on the base 210, and may enablethe cover member 300 to contact the base 210 in a surface-contactmanner. The stepped portions 211 and the end of the cover member 300 maybe adhesively secured to each other and may be sealed shut using anadhesive or the like.

The base 210 may be disposed so as to be spaced apart from the firstlens moving unit by a predetermined distance. The base 210 may beprovided with a supporting portion 255, which is positioned at theportion of the base 210 at which terminals 251 of the circuit board 250are formed and which has a size corresponding to that portion of thebase 210. The supporting portion 255 may be configured to have aconstant cross-sectional area without the stepped portion 211 so as tosupport a terminal pad 253 having the terminals 251.

The base 210 may have second recesses 212 formed at the corners thereof.When the cover member 300 includes projections formed at the cornersthereof, the projections of the cover member 300 may be fitted into thesecond recesses 212.

The base 210 may be provided in the upper surface thereof with secondmounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 in which the second sensors 240 aredisposed. According to the embodiment, two second mounting recesses215-1 and 215-2 are provided, and the second sensors 240 arerespectively disposed in the second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2,whereby the second sensors 240 are able to detect the extent by whichthe housing 140 moves in the second and/or third directions. To thisend, the two second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be disposedsuch that the angle defined by two lines connecting the two secondsensors 240 and the center of the base 210 is 90°.

Each of the second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be provided onat least one surface thereof with an inclined surface (not shown) suchthat epoxy or the like for the assembly of the second sensors 240 ismore easily injected through the inclined surface. The additional epoxyor the like may not be injected into the second mounting recesses 215-1and 215-2, or may be injected in order to secure the second sensors 240in place. The second mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be disposedat positions that are spaced apart from the center of the second coilunit 230 by a predetermined distance. According to the embodiment, thesecond mounting recesses 215-1 and 215-2 may be formed near the sides ofthe base 210.

The cover member 300 may be provided with a groove at a positioncorresponding to the stepped portion 211 of the base 210 so as to allowthe injection of an adhesive or the like through the groove. At thispoint, since the adhesive, which is injected through the groove, has alow viscosity, the adhesive can easily infiltrate between the steppedportion 211 and the end surface of the cover member 300. The adhesive,which is applied to the groove, may fill the gap between the matingsurfaces of the cover member 300 and the base 210 through the groove,and thus the cover member 300 may be sealingly coupled to the base 210.

The base 210 may further be provided on the lower surface thereof with amounting seat (not shown) on which a filter is installed. The filter maybe an infrared screening filter. However, the embodiments are notlimited thereto, and the base 210 may be provided on the lower surfacethereof with an additional sensor holder at which a filter is disposed.The base 210 may be provided on the lower surface thereof with a sensorsubstrate, on which an image sensor is mounted so as to constitute acamera module.

The plurality of support members 220 may be disposed at the second sideportions 142 of the housing 140. As described above, when the housing140 has, for example, a polygonal shape when viewed in a plan view, thehousing 140 may have a plurality of second side portions 142. If theinterior of the lower end of the housing 140 has an octagonal shape, theplurality of support members 220 may be disposed at four second sideportions 142 among eight side portions. For example, each of the foursecond side portions 142 may be provided with two support members 220,and a total of eight support members 220 may thus be provided.

Alternatively, among the four second side portions 142 of the housing140, each of two second side portions 142 may be provided with only onesupport member 220, and each of the other two second side portions 142may be provided with two support members 220 with the result that atotal of six support members 220 may be provided.

As described above, the support members 220 may serve as the paths fortransmitting power required for the first sensor 170 and the first coilunit 120 and the paths for providing the circuit board 250 with thefeedback signals output from the first sensor 170.

Furthermore, since the support members 220 serve to return the housing140 to the normal position after the housing 140 has moved in the secondand/or third directions in the first lens moving unit, when the samenumber of support members 220 are symmetrically disposed in the diagonaldirection, the elastic coefficient may be balanced. Specifically, whenthe housing 140 moves in the second and/or third directions in the planeperpendicular to the optical axis direction, the support members 220 maybe finely deformed in the moving direction of the housing 140 or in thelength direction of the support members 220. Here, the term “lengthdirection” may refer to the direction connecting the upper end and lowerend of each wire of the support members 220. Accordingly, the housing140 can move only in the second and/or third directions, which aresubstantially perpendicular to the optical axis, with almost nodisplacement in the first direction, which is parallel to the opticalaxis, thus improving the accuracy of handshake correction. This may beobtained by the characteristic whereby the support members 220 arecapable of being stretched.

As shown in FIG. 12, the four support members 220, each of whichincludes a pair of support members, are disposed two at each of foursecond side portions 142 among the eight side portions so as to supportthe housing 140 in the state of being spaced apart from the base 210 bya predetermined distance.

The support members 220 according to the embodiment may be respectivelydisposed at the second side portions 142 of the housing 140 so as to besymmetrical with one another. However, the embodiments are not limitedthereto. In other words, the shape and number of the plurality ofsupport members 220 may be set to be symmetrical to one another in thesecond and third directions, which are perpendicular to the firstdirection. Considering the above-mentioned elastic coefficient, thenumber of the support members 220 may be eight.

Although the support members 220 have been described as being embodiedas suspension wires without a predetermined pattern in the aboveembodiment, the embodiments are not limited thereto. According toanother embodiment, the support members 200 may be embodied as supportplates having elastic deformation portions (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 13, the second coil unit 230 may include fifth throughholes 230 a, which are formed through the corner regions of a circuitmember 231. The support members 220 may extend through the fifth throughholes 230 a and may be connected to the circuit board 250.

The second coil unit 230 may be disposed to face the magnet 130 securedto the housing 140. For example, the second coil unit 230 may bedisposed outside the magnet 130. Alternatively, the second coil unit 230may be disposed under the magnet 130 so as to be spaced apart from themagnet 130 by a predetermined distance.

According to the embodiment, although the second coil unit 230 mayinclude a total of four second coil units, which are disposed at thefour sides of the circuit board 250, as shown in FIG. 13, theembodiments are not limited thereto. Only two coils 230, namely, asecond coil unit for the second direction and a second coil unit for thethird direction, may be provided, or four or more second coil units 230may also be provided. According to the embodiment, a circuit pattern maybe formed on the circuit board 250 so as to have the shape of the secondcoil unit 230, and an additional second coil unit 230 may be disposed onthe circuit board 250. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto,and only the second coil unit 230 may be disposed on the circuit board250 without the formation of the circuit pattern having the shape of thesecond coil unit 230 on the circuit board 250. Alternatively, the secondcoil unit 230, which is constituted by winding a wire into a doughnutshape or which is constituted by a finely patterned coil, may beconductively connected to the circuit board 250.

The circuit member 231 including the second coil unit 230 may be mountedon the circuit board 250 disposed over the base 210. However, theembodiments are not limited thereto, and the second coil unit 230 may beclosely disposed on the base, or may be spaced apart from the base 210by a predetermined distance. Furthermore, the second coil unit 230 maybe formed on an additional substrate, and the substrate may be layeredon the circuit board 250 and may be connected thereto.

As described above, the housing 140 may be moved in the second and/orthird directions by the interaction of the magnets 130, which aredisposed to face each other, and the second coil unit 230, thusimplementing handshake correction. To this end, the first to fourthsupport members 220 may support the housing 140 with respect to the base210 such that the housing 140 can move in the second and/or thirddirections, which are perpendicular to the first direction.

The second sensors 240 may detect displacement of the first lens movingunit with respect to the base 210 in the second and/or third directions,which are perpendicular to the optical axis. To this end, the secondsensors 240 may be spaced apart from the second coil unit 230 by apredetermined distance in the first direction, with the circuit board250 disposed therebetween so as to detect movement of the housing 140.In other words, the second sensors 240 are not directly connected to thesecond coil unit 230, and the circuit board 250 may be provided on theupper surface thereof with the second coil unit 230 and on the lowersurface thereof with the second sensors 240. According to theembodiment, the second sensors 240, the second coil unit 230 and themagnet 130 may be disposed on the same axis.

The second sensors 240 may be embodied as Hall sensors, but mayalternatively be embodied as any sensor as long as it is capable ofdetecting variation of magnetic force. As shown in FIG. 13, two secondsensors 240 may be disposed near the sides of the base 210 disposedunder the circuit board 250, and may be fitted in the second mountingrecesses 215-1 and 215-2 formed in the base 210.

The circuit board 250 may include sixth through holes 250 a 1 and 250A2through which the support members 220 extend. The support members 220may extend through the sixth through holes 250A1 and 250A2 in thecircuit board 250 and may be conductively connected to the associatedcircuit patterns, which may be disposed on the lower surface of thecircuit board 250, via soldering.

The circuit board 250 may further include seventh through holes 250 b.The second upper support protrusions 217 of the base 210 and the sevenththrough holes 250 b may be coupled as shown in FIG. 12, and may besecured to each other through thermal fusion or by means of an adhesivesuch as epoxy.

The circuit board 250 may include a plurality of terminals 251. Thecircuit board 250 may be provided with the bent terminal pad 253.According to the embodiment, the one bent terminal pad 253 of thecircuit board 250 may be provided with at least one terminal 251.

According to the embodiment, the plurality of terminals 251 provided onthe terminal pad 253 may receive external power, and may supply thepower the first and second sensors 170 and 240. Furthermore, theplurality of terminals 251 may output the feedback signals output fromthe first sensor 170 to the outside. The number of terminals 251provided on the terminal pad 252 may be increased or decreased dependingon the kinds of components to be controlled.

According to the embodiment, although the circuit board 250 may beembodied as an FPCB, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Theterminals of the circuit board 250 may be directly formed on the base210 through a process of forming a surface electrode.

As described above, the circuit board 250 may supply power (or current)required for the first coil unit 120 and the first sensor 170, and mayreceive the feedback signals from the first sensor 170 so as to adjustthe displacement of the bobbin 110.

FIG. 14A is a bottom view illustrating the disposition of the secondcoil unit 230 and the second sensor 240. FIG. 14B is an enlarged viewshowing the dashed circle of FIG. 14A.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the second coil unit 230 may be configured to havea square plate, or may be constituted by a finely patterned coil. Secondcoils 232 of the second coil unit 230 may be positioned near respectivesides of the second coil unit 230 such that the length direction of eachsecond coil 232 is positioned on or parallel to the associated side ofthe second coil unit 230. Alternatively, four additional coils may bedisposed at associated positions on the upper surface of the circuitboard 250 without providing the second coil unit 230 having the squareshape.

The second sensors 240 may be disposed such that the centers of thesecond sensors 240 do not overlap the second coils 232 when viewed inthe first direction. To this end, each of the second sensors 240 may bedisposed so as to be spaced apart from the center of the associatedsecond coil 232 by a predetermined distance in the length direction ofthe second coil 232.

Since the dashed circle of FIG. 14A, which indicates the peripheralregion of the second sensor 240, may be the housing 140 covering thecenter of the second sensor 240, the second sensor 240 may partiallyoverlap the second coil 232. The center of the second sensor 240 may bethe center of the detecting portion or the center of the peripheralregion.

For disposition of the second sensors 240, some of the plurality ofsecond coils 232 may be partially cut out such that the centers of thesecond sensors 240 do not overlap the second coils 232, and may beconfigured such that end portions thereof are eliminated or such thatthe longitudinal length thereof is shorter than the remaining secondcoils 231.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the second coils 232 may include third coils 232-1and fourth coils 232-2, which have different lengths. The third coil232-1, close to which the second sensor 240 is disposed, may beconfigured to be cut out at the end at which the second sensor 240 ispositioned. The remaining fourth coils 232-2, close to which the secondsensors 240 are not disposed, may not be cut out at the ends thereof.

Considering the structure of the second sensor 240, the second sensor240 may sensitively detect variation of magnetic force at the centerthereof. Hence, when the center of the second sensor 240 overlaps thesecond coils 232, variation of magnetic force generated by the magnet130 may not be precisely detected due to the noise of the magnetic forcegenerated by the second coil 232.

According to the embodiment, since the second sensor 240 is disposedsuch that the center of the second sensor 240 does not overlap thesecond coil 232, it is possible to avoid the effects of noise of themagnetic force generated by the second coil 232, and to thus preciselydetect variation in the magnetic force generated by the magnet 130.Accordingly, there is an advantage of precisely detecting displacementof the housing with respect to the base in the second and/or thirddirections.

The second coil 232 may have a structure in which a wire is repeatedlywound or in which a plurality of layers of coils are repeatedly wound.Upon the application of current, the second coil 232 generates magneticforce so as to move all or a portion of the first lens moving unit,including the bobbin 110 in the second and/or third directions.

The second coil 232 may be formed on the second coil unit 230 bydirectly winding a wire or printing a wound coil pattern. The secondcoil 232 may be constituted by a plurality of second coil layers or asingle second coil layer layered on the second coil unit 230 in thefirst direction.

The second coils 232 may be provided on one or both of the upper andlower surfaces of the second coil unit 230 when viewed in the firstdirection. The embodiment illustrates the case where the second coils232 are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the second coilunit 230.

The second coil 232 may include rounded portions at ends thereof in thelongitudinal direction, in which a plurality of coils are curved, andstraight portions disposed between the rounded portions, in which theplurality of coils extend straight.

However, the third coil 232-1, which is cut out at the end thereof, maybe configured at the cutout end thereof such that the straight coilspositioned in the straight portion are bent at an angle of about 90° andare again bent at angle of 90°, resulting in the straight portion.

As shown in FIG. 14A, according to the embodiment, a plurality of secondcoils 232 may be provided, and the second sensors 240 may be disposedclose to one end of at least one of the second coils 232. However, inFIG. 14A, the circuit board 250 is removed, and only the positionalrelationship between the second coil unit 230 and the second sensors 240is shown for clarity of explanation.

In the specific embodiment, four second coils 232 may be provided suchthat one of a pair of second coils 232 faces the other of the pair ofsecond coils 232. The third coils 232-1 and the fourth coils 232-2 maybe disposed close to each other so as to detect displacement of thehousing in the x and y axis directions, that is, in the second and/orthird directions using the two second sensors 240.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the second sensors 240 will bedescribed in detail.

The second sensors 240 may be provided at two adjacent second coils 232among the two pairs of mating second coils 232. One of the two secondsensors 240 serves to detect displacement of the housing with respect tothe base in the second direction, and the other of the two secondsensors 240 serves to detect displacement of the housing with respect tothe base in the third direction.

Assuming that imaginary lines extend from the centers of the two secondsensors 240 in the second and third directions, the imaginary extendinglines may intersect each other. Thanks to this configuration, the twosecond sensors 240 may detect the displacement by which the whole or aportion of the first lens moving unit moves in the second and thirddirections.

As shown in FIG. 14B, in order to inhibit the second sensor 240 frombeing affected by magnetic force generated by the third coil 232-1 or togreatly reduce the effect of the magnetic force, the center of thesecond sensor 240, which is most sensitive to variation of magneticforce, has to be spaced apart from the end of the third coil 232-1 by apredetermined distance B1.

Specifically, the predetermined distance B1 may be set to be 0 mm ormore, and may be preferably set to be 0.3 mm or more. Although themaximum value of the determined distance B1 is not particularly limited,it may be appropriately set in consideration of the size of the lensmoving apparatus and size and configuration of the second sensors 240.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the disposition of the magnets 130and the second coil unit 230 according to the embodiment. FIG. 16 is aperspective view showing the disposition of the magnets 130 and thedirections of magnetic force according to the embodiment.

However, FIG. 15 shows only the magnets 130 and the second coil unit230, and omits illustration of the lower elastic member 160 and theother components, for clarity of explanation.

In the embodiment, four magnets 130 may be provided such that each ofthe magnets 130 is positioned close to and parallel to the associatedside of the second coil unit 230. As described above, the first sensor170 and the second sensors 240 may detect all of displacements in thefirst, second and third directions of the first lens moving unit byvariation of magnetic force generated by the magnets 130.

In the embodiment, the fourth coil 232-2, near which the second sensor240 is not positioned, may have a larger surface area than the magnet130. Accordingly, the magnet 130 may be disposed to be surrounded by thefourth coil 232-2 when viewed in the first direction. The magnet 130 maybe disposed between opposite rounded portions of the fourth coil 232-1.

The third coil 232-1, near which the second sensor 240 is positioned,may be configured to have a larger surface area than the magnet 130except for the region near which the second sensor 240 is positioned.Accordingly, the magnet 130 may be disposed to be surrounded by thefourth coil 232-2 except for the region near which the second sensor 240is positioned, when viewed in the first direction.

Magnetic force generated by the disposition the N poles 134 and the Spoles 132 of the magnets 130 (130-1, 130-2, 130-3 and 130-4) may beapproximately represented as illustrated in FIG. 16 in accordance withFleming's left-hand rule.

Among the components of the magnetic force, the components related tothe second and third directions are associated with the first sensor. Inother words, it is possible to detect displacement in the firstdirection of the first lens moving unit by detecting variation ofmagnetic force generated by the second- and third-direction componentsof the magnetic force using the first sensor 170.

The first-direction component of the magnetic force is associated withthe second sensor 240. In other words, it is possible to detectdisplacement in the second and third directions of the first lens movingunit by detecting variation of magnetic force generated by thefirst-direction component of the magnetic force using the second sensor240.

FIG. 17A is a plan view showing the disposition of the magnets 130 andthe second coil unit 230 according to the embodiment. FIG. 17B is a sideview showing the disposition of the magnets 130 and the second coil unit230 according to the embodiment. FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of aportion of FIG. 17A.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the driving in the second and third directions ofthe first lens moving unit including the first coil, which is indicatedby the arrows, may be controlled by the second lens moving unitincluding the second coil unit 230, which is operated by the magneticforce generated by the application of current to the second coil unit230.

At this point, the two sensors 240 may detect displacement in the secondand/or third directions of the first lens moving unit by detectingvariation in the magnetic force of the magnet 130.

As shown in FIG. 17B, the driving in the first direction of the firstlens moving unit including the first coil, which is indicated by thearrow, may be controlled by magnetic force generated by the applicationof current to the first coil and by the magnetic force generated by themagnets 130.

As described above, the first sensor 170 provided at the sensorsubstrate 180 may detect displacement in the first direction of thefirst lens moving unit by detecting variation in the magnetic force ofthe magnets 130.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the relative disposition of the magnet130 and the second sensor 240. The second sensor 240 may be disposedsuch that the center of the second sensor 240 is not positioned outsidethe end of the magnet 130 but is positioned inside the magnet 130.

As described, since the second sensor 240 is able to sensitively detectelectromagnetic force at the center thereof, the center of the secondsensor 240 is preferably positioned inside the magnet 130 so as not toescape from the end of the magnet 130 when viewed in the firstdirection.

Accordingly, the distance B2 between the center of the second sensor 240and the end of the magnet 130 may be set to be zero or more, and may beappropriately selected in consideration of the detection sensitivity ofthe second sensor 240, the overall structure of the lens movingapparatus and the like.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the second coil unit 230. The width B3 ofthe second coil 232, which is measured in the second or third direction,may be designed to be equal to or larger than the length of the shorterside of the magnet 130.

The length of the shorter side of the magnet 130 may be the length inthe second or third direction. The width B3 of the second coil 232,which is measured in the second or third direction, is preferablydesigned such that the magnet 130 overlaps the second coil 232 when themoving distance in the second or third direction of the housing 140 isconsidered, that is, when the housing 140 is moved to the full extent inthe second or third direction. Here, the width B3 of the second coil 232may mean the width of the straight portion, excluding the roundedportion.

However, the width may be limited due to the overall structuralrestriction of the lens moving apparatus. Accordingly, the width B3 ofthe second coil 232 may be set to be within a range of 1 time to 2times, or 1.2 times to 2 times the length of the shorter side of thefirst magnet 130.

In the case of the second coil 232, particularly, in the case of thethird coil 232-1 near which the second sensor 240 is positioned, thelength B4 of the third coils 231-1 may be equal to or shorter than thelength of the first magnet 130. Alternatively, one end of the firstmagnet 130 may extend beyond one end of the third coils 232-1.

In order to inhibit the second sensor 240 from being affected bymagnetic force generated from the second coil unit 230 due tooverlapping of the center of the second sensor 240 and the second coilunit 230 as described above, the length B4 of the fourth coil 232-2,near which the second sensor 240 is positioned, is preferably set to bewithin a range of 0.7 multiples to 1 multiple of the length of themagnet 130.

In the case of the fourth coil 232-2 near which the second sensor 240 isnot positioned, the length B5 of the fourth coil 232-2 may be set to beequal to or longer than the length of the magnet 130.

Considering the intensity of magnetic force generated by the magnet 130,the overall structure of the lens moving unit, and the like, the lengthB5 of the fourth coil 232-2 is preferably set to be within a range of 1time to 1.5 times the length of the magnet 130.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are graphs showing the result of frequency responseanalysis of the support members 220.

For execution of the frequency response analysis, the support members220 have to be vibrated. To this end, an electrical pulse having afrequency of 10 Hz to 100 Hz is applied to the second coil unit 230.Consequently, the support members 220 vibrate by the magnetic forcegenerated by the second coil unit 230. The vibration characteristics ofthe support members 220 are detected by the second sensor 240, and theresult of the detection is represented as amplitude of vibration in thegraphs. At this point, variation in the amplitude of vibration can befound by frequency of vibration obtained by measuring the ratio of thecurrent output from the second sensor 240 to the current input to thesecond coil unit 230, that is, the gain.

FIG. 20A is a graph showing the result of frequency response analysis inthe case where the second sensor 240 is positioned at the center of thesecond coil 232, that is, the center of the second sensor 240 overlapsthe second coil 232. FIG. 20B is a graph showing result of frequencyresponse analysis in the case where the center of the second sensor 240does not overlap the second coil 232.

As shown in FIG. 20A, the center of the second sensor 240 overlaps thesecond coil 232, amplitude of vibration drops and then rises again in afrequency range of about 400-800 Hz, as indicated by the dashed arrow.

Since the variation caused by frequency of vibration can be easilyanticipated when such unstable frequency characteristics occur, thesecond sensor 240 cannot accurately detect the displacement of thesupport members 220 even if the second sensor 240 and the apparatus forcontrolling the second sensor 240 are calibrated. The vibrationcharacteristics are attributable to the fact that the second sensor 240is affected by the magnetic force generated by the second coil unit 230,and thus generates noise.

As shown in FIG. 20B, when the center of the second sensor 240 does notoverlap the second coil 232, it was found that the amplitude ofvibration stably decreases in a frequency range of 400-800 Hz, asindicated by the dashed arrow.

When such stable vibration characteristics are represented, it ispossible to easily anticipate the variation caused by frequency ofvibration. Accordingly, the second sensor 240 can very precisely detectdisplacement of the support members 220 as long as the sensor 240 andthe apparatus for controlling the sensor 240 are calibrated.

In the embodiment, since displacement of the support members 220 isprecisely detected by disposing the center of the second sensor 240 soas not to overlap the second coil 232, the inherent frequency ofvibration of the support members 220 can be easily controlled uponcontrolling the second sensor 240, whereby the resonance phenomenon,which would otherwise occur due to the vibrations, can be avoided oreasily addressed.

FIG. 21 is a view showing the positional relationship of the magnet 130,the second sensor 240 and the second coil unit 230. Specifically, FIG.21 illustrates an example of the distance between the magnet 130 and thesecond sensor 240 and the distance between the magnet 130 and the secondcoil unit 230.

The distance between the upper surface of the second sensor 240 and thelower surface of the magnet 130, which is measured in the firstdirection, may be set to be within a range of 0.1 mm to 1 mm, preferably0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, and more preferably 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm in considerationof the overall structure of the lens moving apparatus, the performanceof the second sensor 240 by which magnetic force or the like aredetected.

The distance B7 between the upper surface of the second sensor 240 andthe upper surface of the second coil unit 230, which is measured in thefirst direction, may be set to be within a range of 0.05 mm to 0.9 mm,preferably 0.15 mm to 0.7 mm, and more preferably 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm inconsideration of the overall structure of the lens moving apparatus, themagnetic force detection performance of the second sensor 240, and thelike.

The lens moving apparatus according to this embodiment may beincorporated in devices in various fields, for example, a camera module.A camera module may be applied to mobile devices such as cellularphones.

The camera module according to this embodiment may include the lensbarrel coupled to the bobbin 110, an image sensor (not shown), a printedcircuit board 250, and an optical system.

The lens barrel may be constructed as described above, and the circuitboard 250 may constitute the bottom surface of the camera module,starting from the area on which the image sensor is mounted.

The optical system may include at least one lens for transmitting imagesto the image sensor. The optical system may be provided with an actuatormodule capable of fulfilling autofocusing and optical image stabilizingfunctions. The actuator module for fulfilling the autofocusing functionmay be constructed in various fashions, and mainly adopts a voice coilunit motor. The lens moving apparatus according to this embodiment mayserve as an actuator module for fulfilling both autofocusing and opticalimage stabilizing functions.

The camera module may further include an infrared ray screening filter(not shown). The infrared ray screening filter serves to shield theimage sensor against light in the infrared range. In this case, the base210, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, may be provided with the infraredray screening filter at a position corresponding to the image sensor,and the infrared ray screening filter may be coupled to the base 210 bymeans of a holder member (not shown). Furthermore, the base 210 maysupport the lower portion of the holder member.

The base 210 may be provided with an additional terminal member forconnection with the circuit board 250, and the terminal member may beintegrally formed using a surface electrode. The base 210 may serve as asensor holder for protecting the image sensor. In this case, althoughthe base 210 may be provided along the lateral side surface thereof withprotrusions projecting downward, these are not essential components.Although not shown in the drawings, an additional sensor holder disposedunder the base 210 may fulfill the function of the protrusions.

Thanks to the above-described construction, the operations of theautofocusing and handshake correction of the first and second lensmoving units may be realized by sharing the magnet 130. In the lensmoving apparatus according to the embodiments, the first sensor 170 maybe disposed, coupled or mounted on the housing 140 or the bobbin 110,and the autofocusing magnet 130 may be shared as the detecting magnet,or the detecting magnet may be additionally disposed. If theautofocusing magnet 130 is shared as the detecting magnet, or thedetecting magnet is positioned so as not to interact with theautofocusing magnet 130, the detecting magnet does not affect theautofocusing magnet 130. Consequently, tilting of the bobbin 110 doesnot occur, and the accuracy of the feedback signal is improved.Furthermore, the number of components is not increased, and the weightof the housing 140 is reduced, thus improving responsiveness. Of course,the autofocusing magnet and the handshake correction magnet may beindependently constructed.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens moving apparatus comprising: a base; acircuit board disposed on the base; a circuit member disposed on thecircuit board a bobbin disposed on the base; a first coil disposed onthe bobbin; a first magnet facing the first coil; a second coil facingthe first magnet; an elastic member coupled to the bobbin; a supportmember connecting the elastic member and at least one of the circuitboard and the circuit member; and a second sensor disposed on a lowersurface of the circuit board, wherein the second coil is disposed on thecircuit member, wherein the second coil comprises a first coil part, asecond coil part disposed opposite to the first coil part, a third coilpart, and a fourth coil part disposed opposite to the third coil part;wherein the first magnet comprises a first magnet part facing the firstcoil part in an optical axis direction, a second magnet part facing thesecond coil part in the optical axis direction, a third magnet partfacing the third coil part in the optical axis direction, and a fourthmagnet part facing the fourth coil part in the optical axis direction;wherein the second sensor comprises a first sensor part and a secondsensor part, wherein one end portion of the first magnet part is notoverlapped with the first coil part and overlapped with the first sensorpart in the optical axis direction, wherein the other end portion of thefirst magnet part is overlapped with the first coil part in the opticalaxis direction, and wherein both ends of the second magnet part areoverlapped with the second coil part in the optical axis direction. 2.The lens moving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sensorpart is adjacent to an end of the fourth coil part, and the secondsensor part is closer to an end of the first coil part than to thesecond coil part.
 3. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a length of the second coil part is smaller than a length of thesecond magnet part.
 4. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a length of the first coil part is equal to or less than alength of the first magnet.
 5. The lens moving apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the circuit member comprises a hole formed at a cornerportion of the circuit member adjacent to the first sensor part, and thesupport member is connected to the hole of the circuit member.
 6. Thelens moving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of thefirst coil part is smaller than a length of the second coil part.
 7. Thelens moving apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a lower surface ofthe third magnet part comprises one end portion of the third magnet partnot overlapped with the third coil part in the optical axis direction,and wherein the second sensor part is overlapped with the one endportion of the lower surface of the third magnet part in the opticalaxis direction.
 8. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 7,wherein a length of the third coil part is smaller than a length of thefourth coil part.
 9. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the first sensor part is configured to detect displacement ofthe housing with respect to the base in a X-axis direction, and thesecond sensor part is configured to detect displacement of the housingwith respect to the base in a Y-axis direction.
 10. The lens movingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the other end portion of thelower surface of the first magnet part is overlapped with the first coilpart in the optical axis direction, and wherein the other end portion ofthe lower surface of the third magnet part is overlapped with the thirdcoil part in the optical axis direction.
 11. The lens moving apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein the one end portion of the first magnetpart is disposed outside the first coil part when viewed from the top,and the other end of the first magnet part is disposed within both endsof the first coil part.
 12. The lens moving apparatus according to claim11, wherein both ends of the second magnet part are disposed within bothends of the second coil part when viewed from a top view.
 13. The lensmoving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one end of the thirdmagnet part is disposed outside the third coil part when viewed from thetop, and the other end of the third magnet part is disposed within bothends of the third coil part, and wherein both ends of the fourth magnetpart are disposed within both ends of the fourth coil part when viewedfrom a top view.
 14. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a first sensor for detecting displacement of thebobbin, wherein the elastic member comprises an upper elastic membercoupled to an upper surface of the housing and a lower elastic membercoupled to a lower surface of the housing; wherein the upper elasticmember comprises first to fourth upper elastic members, wherein thesupport member comprises first to fourth support members, and whereinthe first sensor is connected to the first to fourth support members viathe first to fourth upper elastic members, respectively.
 15. The lensmoving apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the lower elastic membercomprises first and second lower elastic members, which are separatedfrom each other, and wherein the first coil is connected to the firstand second lower elastic members.
 16. The lens moving apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the upper elastic member furthercomprises a fifth upper elastic member and a sixth upper elastic member,which are separated from each other, wherein each of the fifth upperelastic member and the sixth upper elastic member is coupled to thehousing and electrically connected to the first coil.
 17. The lensmoving apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a secondmagnet disposed to face the first sensor.
 18. The lens moving apparatusaccording to claim 14, further comprising a sensor substrate coupled tothe bobbin, wherein the first sensor is coupled to the sensor substrate,and wherein the sensor substrate is disposed on the bobbin.
 19. A lensmoving apparatus comprising: a base; a substrate disposed on the base; abobbin disposed on the base; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; afirst magnet facing the first coil; a second coil facing the firstmagnet; an elastic member coupled to the bobbin; a wire connecting theelastic member and the substrate; and a second sensor disposed on thesubstrate, wherein the second coil and the second sensor are disposed onopposite sides of the substrate, wherein the second coil comprises afirst coil part, a second coil part disposed opposite to the first coilpart, a third coil part, and a fourth coil part disposed opposite to thethird coil part; wherein the first magnet comprises a first magnet partfacing the first coil part in an optical axis direction, a second magnetpart facing the second coil part in the optical axis direction, a thirdmagnet part facing the third coil part in the optical axis direction,and a fourth magnet part facing the fourth coil part in the optical axisdirection; wherein the second sensor comprises a first sensor part and asecond sensor part, wherein one end portion of the first magnet part isoverlapped with the first sensor part in the optical axis direction, andthe other end portion of the first magnet part is overlapped with oneend of the first coil part in the optical axis direction, and whereinboth ends of the second magnet part are overlapped with the second coilpart in the optical axis direction.
 20. The lens moving apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein the substrate comprises a hole formed ata corner portion of the substrate adjacent to the first sensor part, andwherein the wire is inserted in the hole of the substrate.
 21. The lensmoving apparatus according to claim 19, wherein at least a portion ofthe first sensor part is disposed outside of the other end of the firstcoil part when viewed from a top view.
 22. The lens moving apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein the first to fourth coil parts aredisposed on an upper surface of the substrate, and the first sensor partand a second sensor part are disposed on a lower surface of thesubstrate.
 23. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 19, whereinthe base comprises a recess, and the second sensor is disposed in therecess of the base.
 24. A lens moving apparatus comprising: a housing; abobbin disposed in the housing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin; afirst magnet disposed on the housing and facing the first coil; anelastic member coupled to the bobbin and the housing; a circuit memberdisposed below the housing and comprising a second coil facing the firstmagnet; a circuit board disposed below the circuit member and comprisinga terminal; a base disposed below the circuit board; a support memberconnecting the elastic member and any one of the circuit board and thecircuit member; and a second sensor disposed on a lower surface of thecircuit board, wherein the second coil is formed at the circuit member,wherein the second coil comprises a first coil part, a second coil partdisposed opposite to the first coil part, a third coil part, and afourth coil part disposed opposite to the third coil part; wherein thefirst magnet comprises a first magnet part facing the first coil part inan optical axis direction, a second magnet part facing the second coilpart in the optical axis direction, a third magnet part facing the thirdcoil part in the optical axis direction, and a fourth magnet part facingthe fourth coil part in the optical axis direction; wherein the secondsensor comprises a first sensor part and a second sensor part, wherein alower surface of the first magnet part comprises a first regionoverlapped with the first coil part in the optical axis direction and asecond region not overlapped with the first coil part in the opticalaxis direction, and the second region of the lower surface of the firstmagnet part is one end portion of the lower surface of the first magnetpart, and wherein the first sensor part is overlapped with the secondregion of the lower surface of the first magnet part in the optical axisdirection.
 25. The lens moving apparatus according to claim 24, whereina lower surface of the third magnet part comprises a first regionoverlapped with the third coil part in the optical axis direction, and asecond region not overlapped with the third coil part in the opticalaxis direction, wherein the second sensor part is overlapped with thesecond region of the lower surface of the third magnet part in theoptical axis direction.
 26. The lens moving apparatus according to claim24, wherein a center of the first sensor part is overlapped with thesecond region of the first magnet part, and the center of the firstsensor part is a detecting portion of the first sensor part.
 27. Thelens moving apparatus according to claim 26, wherein a center of thesecond sensor part is overlapped with the second region of the thirdmagnet part, and the center of the second sensor part is a detectingportion of the second sensor part.
 28. A camera module comprising: thelens moving apparatus according to claim 1; a lens barrel coupled to thebobbin of the lens moving apparatus; and an image sensor.